At least 34 lawyers nominated for judgeship in the Federal High Court have been eliminated after not meeting the minimum requirements set by the National Judicial Council’s (NJC) new integrity test.
This integrity vetting — implemented under Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun — aims to disqualify candidates with questionable character or professional backgrounds.
Of the 62 candidates who initially passed the Computer-Based Test conducted by the Federal High Court and were forwarded to the Federal Judicial Service Commission (FJSC), only 28 received a clean bill of health. These 28 will now advance to the NJC interview stage.
As part of the screening process, the names of all nominees were published on 17 September 2025, inviting public feedback regarding their integrity and suitability. Several petitions were submitted, including one alleging that a female nominee had solicited and accepted a ₦1 million bribe. An investigation by the Police Service Commission confirmed this allegation, resulting in her disqualification along with others.
Sources indicate that the remaining 28 nominees will appear before the NJC interview panel ahead of the Council’s meeting planned for mid-January 2026.
Confirming the situation, NJC Director of Information, Mrs. Kemi Ogedengbe, stated that the Council remains committed to transparency and high ethical standards.
“Judicial integrity remains a top priority of the Kekere-Ekun administration. Merit is the only factor that will determine who succeeds,” she asserted, opting not to disclose specifics about individual petitions.
